#StartupsEverywhere: Shaun Moore, Co-Founder, Tern AI
This profile is part of #StartupsEverywhere, an ongoing series highlighting startup leaders in ecosystems across the country. This interview has been edited for length, content, and clarity.
Building resilience in navigation systems
As global conflict increases and urbanization continues, there is an increasing need for alternatives to global positioning systems (GPS). Shaun Moore, co-founder at Tern AI, realized the issue, partnered with two other co-founders and decided to use his previous startup experience to help create an innovative solution. We sat down with Shaun to learn more about his journey, product, and more.
Tell us about your background. What led you to Tern AI?
Over the past decade, I’ve been immersed in the facial recognition space as the founder and CEO of a company called Trueface, which was ultimately acquired. I stayed on with the acquiring company for a period, but found myself missing the creativity, pace, and sense of ownership that comes with building something from the ground up.
Initially, I began advising a few startups, supporting them on business strategy and policy. One of those companies became Tern, founded by former US Special Operators experienced firsthand the limitations of GPS in critical environments like Afghanistan. They had developed well thought out concepts for a GPS-alternative but needed the supporting technology to come on line which happened in 2021.
What started as an advisory role evolved into a deeper opportunity. About two years ago, I officially joined as a co-founder and CEO. Drawing on my prior startup experience, we launched the company last February, raised a $4.4 million seed round, and began securing government contracts. It’s been an exciting journey solving a decades-old challenge with fresh technology and a mission-driven team.
What is the work you all are doing at Tern AI?
The idea behind our product builds on some of the same principles we used in facial recognition, where we could scan a billion faces in under a second. This time, instead of processing visual data, we’re applying that same kind of real-time measurement analysis from sensor data coming from vehicles.
We take information from sensors that are already built into modern vehicles, combine it with digital maps, and run it through what we call our navigational brain. Because we’re not relying on satellite signals, we’re immune to issues like GPS jamming, spoofing, or signal loss in dense urban areas. It’s a completely different risk profile, one that’s more resilient and better suited for today’s connected systems.
Can you expand on the issues with GPS? Why do we need a more resilient solution?
GPS has been an incredible technology, but it was never designed for the way we rely on it today. The problem is, it's surprisingly fragile. In conflict zones, for instance, GPS is often one of the first systems to be disrupted. It's relatively easy and inexpensive to jam, and this isn't just theoretical. We've seen it happen in Ukraine and the Middle East, where GPS jamming has affected both military operations and civilian aviation.
But it's not just a military issue. GPS is a single point of failure for our entire economy. Everything from delivery trucks to commercial aircraft depends on it, and all of that hinges on just 31 satellites orbiting approximately thousands of miles above Earth . If anything happens to those satellites, there's no easy fix. They're not coming back down for a quick reboot.
Even in everyday life, the cracks show. One of my co-founders was in an Uber heading to Newark Airport. While in the Lincoln Tunnel, where GPS always cuts out, the driver missed the one crucial turn. It turned into a 40-minute detour. Multiply that across thousands of drivers every day, and you get wasted time, increased emissions, and more congestion.
So the need isn't just about resilience in wartime, it's about improving reliability, efficiency, and safety in everyday life.
You mentioned your first company was acquired. What was that process like? What went well and what didn’t?
My first company was acquired by a government contractor in 2021. It wasn’t a typical strategic acquisition where a big tech company folds you into their ecosystem, it was more about integrating our software into a broader set of tools across their portfolio.
Looking back, there were definitely things I’d do differently. But going through that process gave me a front-row seat to how acquisitions work from the inside, and I learned a ton from it.
Now with Tern AI, we’re applying those lessons early. We’re building with flexibility in mind, whether that’s scaling independently or being in a strong position if the right acquisition opportunity comes along.
Have you pursued a patent? If so, can you share your experience navigating the patent application process and protecting your intellectual property against false claims?
Yes, we’ve got a patent pending right now. The process of navigating that with new technology, especially in AI, can be pretty complex. There’s not always a clear playbook for how to describe or protect something that doesn’t fit neatly into existing categories, so having the right legal team matters a lot.
At one point at my previous company, we actually got hit with a claim from what was clearly a patent troll, someone saying we were infringing on their IP. It was more of a distraction than a real threat, but we still had to get our attorneys involved to sort it out. Thankfully, it didn’t turn into anything major, but it was a good reminder that even unfounded claims can cost time and money. For startups especially, having the resources to respond quickly makes a big difference.
Are there any local, state, or federal startup issues that you think should receive more attention from policymakers?
One area that could really benefit from continued attention is how the government works with startups, especially around technology acquisition. The current framework, like the Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), was designed decades ago, and while it’s useful for large, traditional contractors, it can be a tough fit for younger, fast-moving companies.
Startups often innovate quickly and can iterate in ways that bigger players can’t, but they may not check all the boxes on day one. Creating more flexible pathways for these companies to demonstrate their capabilities could help bring new technologies into government use earlier in the lifecycle. That’s not about lowering the bar, it’s about recognizing that speed, adaptability, and creativity are assets, especially in emerging fields like AI.
At the end of the day, it’s a win-win. Startups get a clearer way to engage, and agencies get early access to cutting-edge innovation.
How do you see Tern AI evolving over the next few years?
We see Tern AI becoming a core part of how vehicles navigate, our goal is to be in every car, truck, and fleet vehicle in the U.S. We were awarded a contract by the Department of Transportation and have already gone through testing and evaluation with them. It’s an important step in showing that our solution isn’t just innovative, it’s ready for real-world deployment.
At the heart of it, our mission is resilience. We’re building technology that lets vehicles navigate without relying on external signals, so whether it’s a tunnel in a city or a conflict zone halfway across the world, people and systems can keep moving without interruption. That kind of reliability is going to matter more and more in the years ahead.
All of the information in this profile was accurate at the date and time of publication.
Engine works to ensure that policymakers look for insight from the startup ecosystem when they are considering programs and legislation that affect entrepreneurs. Together, our voice is louder and more effective. Many of our lawmakers do not have first-hand experience with the country's thriving startup ecosystem, so it’s our job to amplify that perspective. To nominate a person, company, or organization to be featured in our #StartupsEverywhere series, email advocacy@engine.is.
